In this episode the Crew dials the voicemail to answer a question from a loyal Power Athlete Radio listener:
Long time lurker. First time submitter to the hotline. My kid is training at a local gym that is pushing sport performance training. His coach told him a bigger back squat means a bigger vertical jump. The dudes in the NBA can jump but I bet they can’t back squat a Triscuit.
Seamless and Effortless Movement Through Space
Although used as a fundamental benchmark by highest level of professional sports, the vertical jump is a very underutilized assessment tool for subsequent levels. The coaches and scouts at the NFL and NBA combines are searching for dynamic athletes that can demonstrate lower body strength and explosiveness. This view works for that level because those coaches are looking for developed athletes, not athletes they need to BE developed (professional sports has very little time to develop athletes). With this in mind, should strength coaches at the developmental levels be looking at vertical with the same perspective as a pro-scout?
Read Now: The Vertical Jump Performance Window by Tex McQuilkin
John and Tex seek to set a parent straight on athlete evaluations and comparing your kid to numbers professional athletes are hitting for their squats and vertical jumps. All aspects of athleticism are discussed including key taking aways for developing coordination, keying in on explosivity, and tips for identifying which position an athlete is best suited for with a simple movement eval.
Read Now: Herpes on the First Date by John Welbourn
Empower Your Performance
Have you been squatting on questions for John and Tex? Maybe you have asked around, and just can’t land on a straight answer. Take a breather, give us a call, and let us do the leg work.
The Power Athlete Radio hotline is OPEN! Dial (929) ING – ING0, leave us a detailed message, and we’ll get to work on finding you answers!
That’s (929) 464 – 4640
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SOURCES
Tagged: Competition / Evaluation / Professional / Professional Athlete / Squat / Teen Athletes / Testing / Vertical Jump
AUTHOR
John
John Welbourn is CEO of Power Athlete and Fuse Move. He is also creator of the online training phenomena, Johnnie WOD. He is a 9 year veteran of the NFL. John was drafted with the 97th pick in 1999 NFL Draft and went on to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, and for starter for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In 2008, he played with the New England Patriots until an injury ended his season early with him retiring in 2009. Over the course of his career, John has started over 100 games and has 10 play-off appearances. He was a four year lettermen while playing football at the University of California at Berkeley. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric in 1998. John has worked with the MLB, NFL, NHL, Olympic athletes and Military. He travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition for Power Athlete. You can catch up with John as his personal blog on training, food and life, Talk To Me Johnnie and at Power Athlete.
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